MF Hussain Painting Case: The Delhi High Court has allowed Congress leader Bhanwar Jitendra Singh to appear via video conferencing in the painting controversy. The case concerns the return of a painting worth ₹1 crore.

Congress leader Bhanwar Jitendra Singh

The Delhi High Court has granted a major relief to Congress leader and former Minister of State for Home Affairs Bhanwar Jitendra Singh in the dispute involving a valuable painting by renowned artist M.F. Husain. The court has allowed him to appear before the trial court via video conferencing. However, the court has refused to stay further legal proceedings. The next hearing in the case will be held on April 7, 2026.

What is the matter?

The case involves a valuable painting by M.F. Husain, reportedly worth over ₹1 crore. According to a petition filed in the High Court, Bhanwar Jitendra Singh borrowed the painting from the complainant's mother, a former Member of Parliament, in April 2014.

The family alleges that when the painting was requested back some time later, the Congress leader delayed returning it. In 2017, he reportedly said he was unable to locate the painting. It was reported that he even offered to exchange Bundi miniature paintings for it, but the original painting has not been returned.

After the complaint was filed, the Magistrate Court initially deemed it not a case worthy of an FIR or action. However, this decision was later overturned by a Special Judge, who ordered the Congress leader to be summoned under the charge of criminal breach of trust. Bhanwar Jitendra Singh has approached the High Court to challenge this order.

Congress leader's lawyer argued in the High Court.

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Congress leader, stated that there was no concrete evidence that the painting had been handed over. The lawyer argued that the complaint contained no date or time and that the witness statements were inconsistent. There was no written or concrete evidence that the painting had been handed over to him.

Singhvi requested the court to stay the trial court proceedings until the High Court delivers its verdict on the matter or at least allow the leader to appear through video conferencing.

High Court decision

After hearing arguments from both sides, the High Court issued notices to the Delhi Police and the complainant. The court stated that it would not stay the trial court proceedings for now. However, granting relief, it directed that Bhanwar Jitendra Singh may appear before the trial court via video conferencing instead of in person.

The next hearing in the case will be on April 7, 2026. Until then, the High Court will consider the responses of the police and the complainant and decide whether the special judge's summoning order was correct.